When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 1996 Homicide Data

Females Murdered by Males in Single Victim/Single Offender Incidents

Kentucky

The homicide rate among females murdered by males in Kentucky was 2.20 per 100,000 in 1996

Ranked 9th highest in the United States

Age

Six female homicide victims (14 percent) were less than 18 years old, and two victims (five percent) were 65 years of age or older.

Race

Thirty-five female murder victims were white and nine were black.

Most Common Weapons

Nearly six out of 10 female homicide victims (25 victims or 57 percent) were shot and killed with guns. Six out of 10 of these gun victims (15 victims or 60 percent) were killed with handguns. There were 10 females killed with knives or other cutting instruments, and four females killed by bodily force. The remainder of cases involved other non-firearm weapons.

Victim/Offender Relationship

In cases in which the relationship between the victim and the offender could be identified (40 cases), all but one of the female victims (39 victims or 98 percent) were murdered by someone they knew. Only one female victim was killed by a stranger. Of victims who knew their offenders, two thirds (26 victims or 67 percent) were wives, common law wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends of the offenders. Among the 26 female intimates murdered, 77 percent (20 victims) were killed with guns; 60 percent of these gun victims (12 victims) were shot and killed with handguns.

Circumstance

In cases in which the circumstance of the homicide could be identified (37 cases), 81 percent (30 cases) were not related to the commission of another felony. Of these cases, 47 percent (14 cases) involved arguments between the victim and offender.

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